Aerator



2,993,653 AERATOR Julius August Hjulian, Palos Heights, 111., assignorto Crane (30., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 3,1959, Ser. No. 850,690 Claims. (Cl. 239-424) This invention relatesgenerally to aerators or such devices employed for mixing atmosphericair or the like intimately with liquid, and more particularly it isspecially suitable for application to a conventional domestic kitchensink or lavatory faucet.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over the aeratorsdisclosed in my prior Patents Nos. 2,744,738 issued May 8, 1956, and2,888,209 issued May 26, 1959, both of which have been concerned withthe production of a smooth and coherent pattern in the discharging fluidflow necessary for their success in such practical applications as abovereferred to.

At the outset, in order to acquire a better understanding andappreciation of the background of this particular contribution, itshould be understood that the matter of obtaining a coherent and nicelyaerated flow stream is unusually critical and yet in many cases it maybe desirable to provide for a construction in which either a solid bodyof discharging water or an aerated stream can be easily obtainedoptionally.

It is therefore one of the more important objects of this invention toprovide an aerator which possesses the novel functional advantage thataeration of the discharging stream can be conveniently and selectivelycontrolled as desired with a very minimum of effort.

'Further, it is an important object of this invention to provide for aconstruction in which a solid or nonaerated stream may be convenientlyobtained without special or expensive equipment or structure beingrequired.

Other objects and advantages will bcome more readily apparent uponproceeding with the specification read in light of the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional assembly view of a preferred form ofaerator device embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional assembly view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the discharge end of a conduit such as aconventional faucet spout, generally designated S, is shown having theusual inlet supply chamber 1, the normally turned-down discharge portion2, and with the end limit thereof defined by the annular wall 3, formingthe discharge chamber 4 within which chamber the aerator of my inventionis mounted. The end of the spout portion 3 is preferably threadedoutwardly, as at 5, to receive the complementary internally threadedbody or casing portion generally designated 6. The latter body, asindicated, is preferably of generally cylindrical or conduit form andhas a flow passage extending therethrough designated 7 and is adapted tobe attached as indicated directly to the faucet spout or else to asuitable adapter (not shown) in such cases where the faucet spout is notregularly threaded to receive the casing 6. It should be specially notedthat the body 6 is made imperforate and it fits snugly against the endof the discharging spout 3 by means of the firm connection effected bythe threads and the annular gasket 8 clamped against the end surface 9of the spout portion. Before such attachment of the casing is made, aninner annular sleeve, generally designated 11, is mounted upon theannular ledge 12, the sleeve being supported on said ledge by means ofits outwardly extending continuous annular flange portion 13. As moreclearly indicated in FIG. 2, it should be noted that the flange 13 hasthe cut-away annularly disposed spaces or openings indicated at 14,thereby to form therebetween the spaced apart radially extending lugs15, each of which extends substantially to the inner periphery of thebore 16, as illustrated. The spaces 14 thus communicate with theinterposed annular chamber defined by the outer periphery of the sleeve11 and the wall surface 30. Just below its upper end limit, the sleeve11 is provided with a preferably outwardly flared or enlarged portion17, the latter portion being interrupted on its end peripheral portionwith spaced apart peripherally arranged relieved areas as indicated at18 to provide in a similar manner the upwardly extending spaced-apartannular ribs 19, more clearly shown in FIG. 2 in their spacingarrangement. On the interior thereof and below the upper end limits ofthe lugs 19 of the sleeve 11, an annular shoulder 21 is provided thereonand upon which the cup-shaped screen 22 or similar foraminous element isreceived to project within the chamber defined by the annular wall 20.The screen 22 has the annular outer flange portion 23 for efiecting suchsupport in cooperation with the said shoulder 21. Within the portiondefined by the annular surface 24, and preferably of the same diameteras the flange 23 of the screen, foraminous means such as a flatsheet-like form of screen member 25 is superposed as a cover, therebyforming a substantially closed chamber 26 within the cup-shaped screen22.

Supported upon the said vertically extending spacedapart lugs 19 animperforate plate member 40 is mounted, having a central flow passagetherethrough as shown, it is preferably recessed therearound'as at 27for a portion of its thickness thereby to form an annular shoulder' asat 28 to receive the third and additional foraminous member such as theflat plate-like screen 29. Superposed over the imperforate plate member40 an outer shell, generally designated 31, is provided of inverted cupconfiguration preferably with stepped annular portions, and having atits lower end an outwardly flanged portion 32 fitted within the annularbore 16 of the member 6 and having its upper annular surface portion asat 33 bearing against the gasket 8 so that when the easing 6 istightened on the threads 5, the gasket 8 and the flange members 13 and32 are firmly clamped between the end annular surface 9 of the faucetspout and the inner annular ledge 12 of the casing 6. The innerperipheral limits of the flange 32 are defined by the inner wall surface30.

-It should be noted that the periphery 10 of the outer shell 31 abovethe flange 32 is preferably of such proportions to provide the annularclearance 34 of relatively small dimensions between the spout innersurface 4 and the shell surface 10. This small clearance may account forthe unusual and unexpected performance of the device as hereinafterreferred to. The imperforate plate member 40 for purpose of effectingsecure positioning is preferably shouldered on the inner annular ledge35, the gasket 8 having sufficient flexibility and resiliency to allowfor annular shouldered connections being established at 35 and 9-respectively substantially together.

The outer shell 31 is preferably recessed or stepped annularly as at 36to allow for having an improved annular flow around the surface 36between the inner walls of the chamber 2 of the spout and the saidsurface 36 of the outer shell. At its upper end limit, the shell 31 isprovided with a flat transverse wall or diaphragm 37 to close off thetop chamber 38. The latter chamber has its outer limits defined by theperforate wall portion 3 9 having a plurality of spaced-apart annularlydisposed ports 41, as shown for entry of water into the outer shell,

31, past the screens 29, 25 and 26, in the order named,

Patented July 25, 1961 and thence through the chamber defined by thewalls 20 i and 7, respectively.

It is desirable to maintain a positive annular fluid tight seal at thefaucet spout end surface. This is done by means of the gasket 8contacting the end surface 9 to provide the unique performancehereinafter described, but also preventing the occurrence of anunsanitary condition at the threaded joint at 5.

The aerator construction has been found to possess the advantage thatwhen the faucet fiow is turned on by the usual means (not shown) acoherent, smooth, aerated stream emanates from the discharge outletdefined by the annular wall surface 7 of the body 6. It has further beendiscovered that with the construction illustrated a solid andnon-aerated stream may be easily and quickly obtained by placing aslight obstruction such as a hand or finger, depending upon the flowvolume, in the path of such aerated stream fiow close to the location ofits emergence from the passage 7. Apparently due to creating a backpressure condition within the aerator fiow chambers and apertures, theair intake area within the end of the spout becomes at least quiteextensively logged with water, thus closing oh? the air passages at 14and their communication with the discharge passage 7 to atmosphere. Thisphenomena changes the aerated stream to a non-aerated and solid butsmooth flow substantially extending in transverse section over theentire inside area of the body 6, as defined by the wall surface 7.

It should be understood that this unusual and unobvious functionalresult also presents a strikingly new and substantial advantage overprevious aerators in that the desired type of flow from the kitchen sinkor lavatory faucet can actually be controlled to such extent that eitheran aerated or a non-aerated solid body of water can be drawn selectivelyat will and without the intervention of extra equipment or parts.

It has also been discovered that when the water is tightly shut off sothat none discharges through the spout 1 and into the chamber 2, thepreviously flooded air passages will apparently drain and clear probablytraceable to the influence of capillary attraction, discharging throughthe chamber 7 and thus removing the water in the previously loggedannular chamber 34. When the faucet is again turned on and flow is againresumed, a smooth coherent aerated flow emerges from the aeratordischarge outlet 7 until it is either interrupted by the creation ofback pressure by the obstruction as hereinabove explained or else byactually shutting off the faucet in the usual or conventional manner.

It is accordingly submitted that an unusual performance has beenobtained from a device in a concededly well developed field insofar asaerators are concerned. Yet the construction is one possessing all theadvantages of easy inspection, repair or replacement whenever necessaryby its possession of the additional advantage of selective aeration.

While only a single embodiment has been shown and described, it will, ofcourse, be appreciated that this is for purpose of illustration only,and the scope of the invention should therefore be measured by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. An aerator combination comprising conduit means having liquid inletmeans and a communicating open end leading therefrom, said conduit meansbeing substantially imperforate to gaseous intake between said inletmeans and said open end and being provided with an interior upstreamfacing annular support ledge, an outer shell within said conduit meanslocated substantially upstream from the said open end for breaking upthe liquid flow within the said conduit means, a sleeve positionedwithin said conduit means, said sleeve being opened through the opencenter portion thereof for the flow of liquid therethrough and mountedin abutting contact with said annular support ledge, the said sleevebeing mounted upstream a substantial distance from the said conduit openend, foraminous means including a cup-shaped screen extending within thesaid sleeve and a second screen positioned upstream of the saidcup-shaped screen spanning an upper open position of said sleeve, saidlatter screen having an outer annular portion extending at least to theinner peripheral wall of said sleeve and being supported by the saidlatter member, the said outer shell overlying said assembly of saidsleeve and screens and having ports annularly disposed transversely inan upper wall portion thereof, said foraminous means including a thirdscreen member extending substantially across an upper open portion ofthe said sleeve, the latter sleeve being upstream of said second screen,a plate-like annular support means for said last named screen, the portsof said outer shell being upstream of each of said screens, the saidsleeve and the outer shell having an annular chamber disposed betweenthem, the said sleeve at a downstream annular portion thereof havingannularly disposed ports for effecting communication between a lowerportion of said annular chamber between the sleeve and outer shell andsaid open end of the conduit means, the said sleeve at an upper rimportion thereof being relieved annularly to form substantiallytransverse ports between a downstream transverse surface of saidplate-like support means and the said sleeve, the said portscommunicating with said annular chamber and the interior of the saidsleeve, the said outer shell being supported on the said conduit supportledge to provide a relatively slight annular clearance between theperiphery of the said outer shell and an inner wall surface of the saidconduit means in a plane substantially below the ports of the said outershell, and body means for joining the said outer shell and the sleeve tothe said conduit means.

2. An aerator of the character described comprising conduit means of afaucet or the like having a liquid inlet passage and an open end leadingtherefrom, the said conduit means being substantially imperforate togaseous intake between the said inlet means and the said open end andbeing provided on an interior transverse surface with support means forthe aerator mechanism, a body attached to the conduit means providingfor said transverse support means, a transversely ported outer shellwithin said conduit means positioned upstream from the said conduit openend for breaking up the liquid flow within the conduit means, a sleevewith an offset upper annular end portion within said conduit means, saidsleeve being open through the center portion thereof for providing flowof liquid therethrough from the outer shell and being mounted on saidconduit support interior surface means, the said sleeve beingcylindrical and substantially smaller in diameter than the said outershell and being wholly contained therewithin to provide an annularchamber therebetween for substantially the full height of the saidsleeve, the said outer shell and sleeve providing for end disposedpassage means communicating with the said annular chamber between thesleeve and outer shell, foraminous means comprising a plurality ofsuperposed screens spanning the open center portion of the sleeve, oneof the said screens being cup-shaped and having an outer rim portionmounted upon an oifset inside wall portion of the said sleeve, the cupportion of the screen diverging from an interior wall surface of thesaid sleeve for an appreciable distance in a downstream direction andthereafter extending towards the center portion of the sleeve in agradual curving configuration, said latter curved portion extending atleast a substantial distance toward the central axis of the said sleeveto form said cup-shaped configuration, a second screen spanning theupper open end portion of the sleeve upstream of the rim of thecup-shaped screen member, a third screen positioned upstream of thesecond screen in superposed spaced relation thereto, said latter screenbeing mounted on an upper end portion of the said sleeve, the ports ofthe said outer shell being upstream of the said third screen, the saidbody being attached to the said conduit means joining said outer shelland sleeve to the said conduit means, the said third screen beingmounted axially upstream of an upper end limit of said sleeve and beingpositioned in spaced-apart relation thereto, said ports of the outershell being annularly spaced apart and extending radially transverselythrough a wall portion in an annular reduced end thereof, said sleevebeing provided with outwardly extending annularly arranged lugs foreffecting attachment of the said sleeve to the said conduit means, thearrangement of said lugs providing for passages therebetweencommunicating with said annular chamber between the sleeve and saidouter shell, the latter passages communicating with said open endleading from the conduit means to provide for the fluid discharge fromsaid annular chamber.

3. In an aerator for a plumbing faucet or the like, the combinationcomprising conduit means such as a faucet spout having liquid inletmeans and an open end therefor, said conduit means being substantiallyimperforate to gaseous intake between the liquid inlet means and theopen end, a body connected to the conduit means at the said open end,the latter member being provided with an interior upstream facingannular ledge, an inverted outer shell within said conduit meanspositioned upstream from the conduit open end for breaking up the liquidflow within the said conduit means, a substantially cylindrical sleevewithin said outer shell in spaced-apart annular relation thereto andopen through the center portion thereof for the flow of liquidtherethrough, the said sleeve being mounted on said ledge and beinglocated upstream from the conduit open end, the said body connecting thesaid outer shell and sleeve to the said conduit means, the said sleevehaving an annular relieved upper end portion and having a lower flangedported portion projecting radially outward for support of the saidsleeve on the said body ledge, the said sleeve also having spaced-apartannularly disposed ports at an upper end portion thereof communicatingwith said annular 4 space between the said sleeve and outer shell, aplurality of superposed forarninous means comprising screens extendingsubstantially transversely across the said sleeve and being supported bysaid latter member, said foraminous means including a lower cup-shapedscreen having an outer portion thereof in proximity to the insideperipheral wall surface of said sleeve and then gradually divergingtherefrom for an appreciable distance within said sleeve in a downstreamdirection, a second screen of flat plate-like form extendingsubstantially across the open upper portion of said cup-shaped screenand having its outer periphery defined by the cup-shaped screen and theinterior wall surface of the said sleeve, a third screen of plate-likeconfiguration upstream of said second screen and mounted between anupper end limit of the said sleeve and an inner annular shoulder portionof the said inverted outer shell, a support for the third screen, saidouter shell being closely fitted within the conduit means upstream ofsaid annular ledge, said outer shell having transverse ports through anupper reduced wall portion thereof upstream of said third screen tocommunicate with the said liquid inlet means, the said sleeve upperrelieved portion forming ports with said support for said third screen,the latter ports communicating with the interior of the said outershell.

4. The subject matter of claim 1, the said annular clearance between theperiphery of said outer shell and the inner wall surface of the saidconduit means being substantially of the order of capillary proportions.

5. The subject matter of claim 1, the said downstream annular portion ofthe sleeve being outwardly flanged and with substantially transverselyapertured radially extending ports to form said ported means foreifecting said communication between said annular chamber and said openend of the conduit means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,744,738 Hjulian May 8, 1956 2,754,097 Hjulian July 10, 1956 2,888,209Hjulian May 26, 1959

